diff --git a/packages/server/src/routes/federation.callStart.test.ts b/packages/server/src/routes/federation.callStart.test.ts
index 80e2b080..9ba88114 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/routes/federation.callStart.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/routes/federation.callStart.test.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { drizzle } from 'drizzle-orm/better-sqlite3';
 import fs from 'node:fs';
 import path from 'node:path';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import type WebSocket from 'ws';
 import * as schema from '../db/schema.js';
 import { setWorkerId } from '../utils/snowflake.js';
 
@@ -52,6 +53,16 @@ async function importManager() {
 
 let sqlite: Database.Database;
 
+/** Insert a minimal native user row so dmMembers FK constraints pass. */
+function seedUser(id: string): void {
+  testDb.insert(schema.users).values({
+    id,
+    username: id,
+    passwordHash: '!test',
+    createdAt: Date.now(),
+  }).run();
+}
+
 describe('processRelayEvents → processDmCallStartEvent', () => {
   beforeEach(async () => {
     sqlite = new Database(':memory:');
@@ -105,4 +116,133 @@ describe('processRelayEvents → processDmCallStartEvent', () => {
     ]);
     expect(cm.getFederatedCall(federatedId)).toBeUndefined();
   });
+
+  it('Path A: zero connected local members → undeliverable, no entry created', async () => {
+    const { processRelayEvents } = await importSUT();
+    const cm = await importManager();
+
+    // Arrange: local DM channel with federated_id matches; two local members, both offline
+    const federatedId = 'fed-call-pathA-all-offline';
+    const dmChannelId = 'dm-1';
+    seedUser('bob-local');
+    seedUser('alice-local');
+    testDb.insert(schema.dmChannels).values({
+      id: dmChannelId,
+      ownerId: null,
+      federatedId,
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+    }).run();
+    testDb.insert(schema.dmMembers).values([
+      { dmChannelId, userId: 'bob-local' },
+      { dmChannelId, userId: 'alice-local' },
+    ]).run();
+
+    // Stub: both users offline (zero WS connections)
+    vi.spyOn(cm, 'getUserConnections').mockImplementation(() => new Set());
+
+    const event = {
+      eventType: 'dm_call_start' as const,
+      messageId: 'msg-2',
+      encryptionVersion: 0 as const,
+      timestamp: Date.now(),
+      federatedId,
+      call: {
+        livekitUrl: 'wss://lk.example',
+        tokens: {
+          'caller-home': 'tok-c',
+          'bob-local': 'tok-b',
+          'alice-local': 'tok-a',
+        },
+        caller: {
+          homeUserId: 'caller-home',
+          homeInstance: 'https://remote.example',
+          displayName: 'Caller',
+        },
+        participants: [],
+      },
+    };
+
+    const sendToUserSpy = vi.spyOn(cm, 'sendToUser');
+
+    const result = await processRelayEvents([event], 'https://remote.example', 'https://remote.example', testDb);
+
+    expect(result.accepted).toEqual([]);
+    expect(result.undeliverable).toEqual([{ messageId: 'msg-2', reason: 'no_recipient' }]);
+    // No dm_call_incoming dispatched to anyone
+    expect(sendToUserSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.any(String),
+      expect.objectContaining({ type: 'dm_call_incoming' }),
+    );
+    // No FederatedCallEntry
+    expect(cm.getFederatedCall(federatedId)).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('Path A: mixed online + offline rings only connected members', async () => {
+    const { processRelayEvents } = await importSUT();
+    const cm = await importManager();
+
+    const federatedId = 'fed-call-pathA-mixed';
+    const dmChannelId = 'dm-2';
+    seedUser('bob-local');
+    seedUser('carol-local');
+    testDb.insert(schema.dmChannels).values({
+      id: dmChannelId,
+      ownerId: null,
+      federatedId,
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+    }).run();
+    testDb.insert(schema.dmMembers).values([
+      { dmChannelId, userId: 'bob-local' },
+      { dmChannelId, userId: 'carol-local' },
+    ]).run();
+
+    // Bob online, Carol offline
+    vi.spyOn(cm, 'getUserConnections').mockImplementation((uid: string) =>
+      uid === 'bob-local' ? new Set(['fakews' as unknown as WebSocket]) : new Set(),
+    );
+
+    const sendToUserSpy = vi.spyOn(cm, 'sendToUser');
+
+    const event = {
+      eventType: 'dm_call_start' as const,
+      messageId: 'msg-3',
+      encryptionVersion: 0 as const,
+      timestamp: Date.now(),
+      federatedId,
+      call: {
+        livekitUrl: 'wss://lk.example',
+        tokens: {
+          'caller-home': 'tok-c',
+          'bob-local': 'tok-b',
+          'carol-local': 'tok-car',
+        },
+        caller: {
+          homeUserId: 'caller-home',
+          homeInstance: 'https://remote.example',
+          displayName: 'Caller',
+        },
+        participants: [],
+      },
+    };
+
+    const result = await processRelayEvents([event], 'https://remote.example', 'https://remote.example', testDb);
+
+    expect(result.accepted).toEqual(['msg-3']);
+    expect(result.undeliverable).toEqual([]);
+
+    // Bob was rung
+    expect(sendToUserSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'bob-local',
+      expect.objectContaining({ type: 'dm_call_incoming', livekitToken: 'tok-b' }),
+    );
+    // Carol was NOT rung (offline)
+    expect(sendToUserSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'carol-local',
+      expect.anything(),
+    );
+
+    const entry = cm.getFederatedCall(federatedId);
+    expect(entry).toBeDefined();
+    expect(entry!.ringedUserIds).toEqual(['bob-local']);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/server/src/routes/federation.ts b/packages/server/src/routes/federation.ts
index 499500a6..b14a9121 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/routes/federation.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/routes/federation.ts
@@ -4312,6 +4312,11 @@ function processDmCallStartEvent(
       // Bug 1 fix: don't ring the caller on this instance
       if (homeUserId === event.call.caller.homeUserId) continue;
 
+      // #18: skip offline members. Entry-vs-no-entry decision uses the same
+      // connection-count signal Path B has always used — keeps the two paths
+      // symmetric in what counts as "ringed."
+      if (connectionManager.getUserConnections(member.userId).size === 0) continue;
+
       const token = event.call!.tokens![homeUserId];
       connectionManager.sendToUser(member.userId, {
         type: 'dm_call_incoming',
@@ -4326,6 +4331,14 @@ function processDmCallStartEvent(
       ringedUserIds.push(member.userId);
     }
 
+    if (ringedUserIds.length === 0) {
+      // #18: no local member was reachable. Do not create a FederatedCallEntry
+      // (it would strand with no accept/reject path); surface to the caller
+      // via undeliverable so it can tear down its ring room instead of hanging.
+      undeliverable.push({ messageId: event.messageId, reason: 'no_recipient' });
+      return;
+    }
+
     const entry: FederatedCallEntry = {
       dmChannelId: localDmChannelId,
       federatedId: event.federatedId,